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Inside the Sooke Night Market

Unique market features many different local food and craft vendors
8176084_web1_Nightmarket

Sooke Night Market has grown by leaps and bounds in the last three years.

“It’s a great for people to get together and a place where young families can come, and I also think the market is important for a lot of small businesses,” said Lee Boyko, executive director at the Sooke Region Museum and market manager.

“It’s given them an opportunity to test out and see whether or not what they are trying to do is selling. So, its got both a social aspect and an economical development aspect.”

The market began in 2014, and runs every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. on the Sooke Region Museum grounds.

“We always wanted to do more on the museum grounds and the idea of a night market came up so we decided to take it on. Night markets are kind of a growing trend around B.C. and it’s something for people in Sooke to do,” he said.

Sooke resident Claire Martin, who sells handmade jewelry at the market each week, said she and her mom have had a booth at the market since it began.

“My favourite part about the market is seeing how many different kinds of people come here. We get to meet all sorts of people that come by our booth,” said Martin.

The market runs through the summer and vendors can set up a booth sporadically, which costs them $26 per night, or pay $300 to have a booth for the season.

“It brings people in to the museum that other wise might not have come, and it is also something the community seems to really enjoy,” said Boyko. “We usually have a performer every week, tons of food vendors, and lots of unique craft booths so there’s lots to check out.”